Mechanical toy



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' S. LITTLEFIELD MECHANICAL TOY Filed March 4, 19

8 Sheets-sh f 3 ttOTTlg A. s. LITTLEFIELD MECHANICAL TOY Sept. 13, 1927.

Filed March 1927' 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ag II //////I/////////// Sept. 13', 1927.

A. S. LITTLEFIELD MECHANICAL TOY Filed March I927 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 ITufentar ArzAur 51 Mei- Emu Pi v 1,641,977 p v A, 5 LITTLEFIELD I MECHANICAL TOY 7 Filed March 4, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Imfentr I A. I o

Sept. 13, 1927.

A. S. LITTLEFIELD MECHANICAL TOY Filed March 4, 1927 s sheets-sheet." 6*

p 1927' A. s. LITTLEFIELD MECHANICAL TOY Filed March 1927 Sept. 13,1927.

- A. S. LITTLEFIELD MECHANICAL TOY Filed March 1927 8 Shets-Sheet Patented Sept. 13", 1927.

Ae -ite when. invite ssie'saii f o L'ITTiEFI'ELb UFACT R G COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLrNoIs, AYCORPORAYTIQN' of iL'ILinoIs.

" MECHAISTIGAI; TOY.

Antwan filed man 4, 1927. Sr'iati No. masts.

projectiles are usuall lost and litter the floor 0'1"; the teem by reasen of [the absene from the a parscu's'ef mansfor preven ing siieh toss. Oiieim'pertaiit objet of the invasionis, therefore; t6 embody thetoy in arecep tacl adapted to eon'tifi all ofthe constituent part-s the pretidmg as a part. thereof a folfdable or Collapsible backstop and coactiti'gmea-iis thereon and on the receptacle for suppertingthe finfolded backstop in proper position for funetiohingduring play to have the projectiles strike the sameand drop into the no'w'o'pen receptacle. I

A further iinp'ortaiit object of the inV'e'ii-' tion is to provide the device With a movable support for the figures oiistitutin'g the tan gen for'the projectiles and Ineehanism for efi'eo'ting'travel of said figures either manman or-otherwise end to provide n wastetioil with the tliiis movable targetsg bafiles to protect them against inaceumte shots ex cept during a brief periodof exposure.

'Other objects" of the invention will be hereinafter explained or will be readily Understood from description.

the seemi g 1 detailed The invention may be variously embodied team the ac'c ompsnyin' drawings, I have illustrated Various embodiments 1 thereofi In said drawings q Fl 1 is a persp ctive View of a meohaiiioal toy or game apparatus"Constriioted in a'ccordaneewith theiiivention.

"Fig. 2 is 3' iminentary centrai'vertical longitudinal station of the semen the line 2''2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a fra'gineiitary detail seasonal one type of target motor employed.

Fig. '41s a top plan'view of the structure showiiin Figs-.1. Qand 3. 1 I 4 p fFig 5'is a sectional view showinga magazine gun and; mounting adapted to be used.

6 is a top plan view of a duplex structure of suhs't antia'lly the type shownih Fig. 1 for simultaneous use by twoplayers'.

Fig. 7, is a Vertical" loiigitudinalseotion on the'line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

V Fig. Sis a plan View of an apparatus similar to that showii'in Fig. l and illustrati-iig another means for manually effecting targettravel.

Fig, 9-is a detail s'ec'tionon the liiie 99 of Fig. 8.

I Fig-10 is a fragmentary planv'ieW show inq another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a topplan- View of stillanother embodiment of the invention; 7

' Figs. 17 and18ar'e transverse sections on the line's-17--17 and 18'l8, respectively, of Fig. 16. a Fig. 19'- isa fragmentarylongitudinal sectiononthe lines 19-19 of Fig. 16. p

The inventionin all-of its embodimerits,

includes a suitable receptacle comprising a pltiiality'of members adapted to be'r'elative 1y. disposed to constitiite a container for the several ,op eiativ'e elements when not in use and as a base and open container therefor when in use. It also includes a- Collapsible backstop and c oa'cti-ng meanson the latter and the receptacle,- when open, for engaging and 's iipp'o'iting said hack s'top. It further i'ncliides a deriionfntahle'sprifig gun a movablejsuppoft 'for' the target elements, and means for eifecting movement of said sup portfaiid a fortress Wall plate having a gap through which the target elements come into gun range, the varioiis embodiments illustra'ted differing from each other onlyin' siich details of construction and operation as are hereinafter speeifically pointed out.

The receptacle consists; preferably, of a hotly sectioii 1 and a cover section 2, both of siibstaiitial'ly the same depthand telescopi- Cally fitted together to provide a elosedree ee'ptaele or a. doLible-Walled open receptacle" o'r'base; there being a limited space between the peripheral Walls ofthe members 1 and 2 to receive the lower edge portion of the back stop member 3 which Consists, preferably, of

a piece of cardboard scored for folding to provide the side walls 41- when set up in operative position and for folding flat to be contained in the receptacle when closed.

The body member 1 of the receptacle is preferably made oi wood and the cover section of cardboard as this requires to be of less strength than the body section which is eoiiipped with the operating mechanism. The latter comprises, preferably, a mtwable support: for target figures, said support consisting either 01' a rotary member such as the rotatable platl'orm 5 of Figs. 1, 3, el. and S or the longitudinally movable platform or carriage (3 ol. Figs. to la, inclusive, the rotatable member being preferred because better adapted for motor actuation. Thus in l igs. 'l, 3, {l and S, the rotatable platform or turn-table is pivotally mounted upon the vertical stud shaft 7 having the base 8 rigid therewith and rigidly secured to the bottom of the member 1, a battle plate 9 being non rotatably mounted upon the upper end portion of said shaft 7. The turn-table 5 is provided with an annular ,ejroove 10 in its cir cuin'fierential edge in which the belt ill on- ;gages, the latter being" also trained over a sheave 12 oil the motor which may be of any desired type but here exemplified as consisting of a fly wheel with which the slmave 12 is rigid, a handle member 12-5 upon which a spool l; rotatably mounted, said spool being provided with a pair of projections 1:) at its free end for engagingin a pair oi. openings 16 in the sheave it cord is wound about the spool, the latter held in engagement with the sheave 12 while the. cord is pulled for unwinding; to elllect rapid rotation of the shear and flywheel, the momeutuin ol the latter maintaining the turntable in rotation. This type oIl motor is obviously the equivalent of a spring motor and both these types are substantially equivalent to direct manual operation in that they dill'er from the latter only in releasing previously stored manual energy. It will. be obvious-2, of course, that the motive member exemplified above may be replaced by a small electric motor without departing from the invention.

.larget figures 17 are secured by means or": hinges 18 to the turn-table and are arranged to fall toward the axis of rotation of the latter when hit by a projectile from the gun 19. which preferably, is mounted for universal pivotal movement upon the end wall of the member 1 opposite the bee -t-stop member. Between the turntable and said gun 19, I provide a wall 20 which, for convenience, .1: term a fortress wall made preterably o't (raid-board of a height greater than that of the standing; target figures on the turn-table, said wall having a middle recess or ,e'ap 2t which said figures pass during rotation. The said wall 20 is held in guides 22 secured to the side walls of the member 1 and is, preferably, of such greater width than the latter or the space between guide members 22 as to require flexing to an arcuate form before it will lit the guides.

as shown in Fig. (5, the structure may include two oil said turntables operable from a single motor, each turn-table being asso elated with a back-stop wall and afortress wall. In this structure the guns 23 are mounted at elevations about the tops of the target figures and ballle wall and have their muzzles projecting; through openings 2-lin the baclestop walls, the advantage of this arrangement being that two persons may play simultaneously.

In place of swiveled guns which would permit projectiles to be directed. to a height above the top oi? the opposed back-stop wall, it is preferable to employ swivels having a horizontal and vertical axes, respectively, and such limited pivotal movement as is necessary to prevent projectiles from beingdireeted outside the confines ol the back: stop wall, these l mitations being easily e11? lected by means of suitable stops 2:) and 1 associated with the gun carriages, the side and top walls of the openings 24-. being eapable of constituting such steps.

The above described arrangement permits rotation oi the turn-table or turn-tables of the apparatus to be rotated at such moderate speed as will permit aim and the during the interval of travel of atarget figure past the recess or gap 21 ot the wall 520, such moderate speed being also attainable by means of a spring motor or an electrical motor or by direct manual operation of the turn-table but in Fig. 8, I have shown manually operable means for imparting rapid rotation olf the turn-table 26 there shown, the latter constituting a flywheel. The said turn-table 26 is provided on its bottom with an axially disposed spur pinionQT rigid therewith and adapted to mesh with the nick-bar instituting part 0:]. a rod or plunger 29 which has the knob 30 at one end, the latter n'ojeetiiur through the lateral slot 31 in the front wall (it the member 32 corresponding to the member 1 heretofore described. Pivotally secured at one end by means cl the pin 32% to the bottom wall of the member 232 is guide member 3a which carries the wire guide 35 having perpendicularly disposed end portions driven into the member ill. A staple or other loop mem- 1 0 ber 36 on the back of the rack-bar engages the wire for limiting the reciprocable stroke of the rack-bar. lhe pivot pin 33 is so disposedrelatively to the pinion 27 as to permit the rack-bar to be thrown into 135 and out (it mesh with said pinion, the full line position of said rack and rod being the normal one for cllecting rotation of the turntable by pulling the rod longitudinally to the limit of movement lined by the wire guide at which limit the rack-bar will be out of mesh with the pinion. A strong pull will set the turn-table into rapid rotation which will continue for some time after the said rack-bar and pinion are out of mesh with each other. To eflect reintermeshing, the outer end portion of the plunger 29- is swung to the right asshown in dotted .skeletonturn-table 37 is employed in connec-' tion with a springmotor .38, a shaft of which carries the member 37. Said motor is mounted upon the platform 3.9 of 'a sheetmetal member which includes the vertical wall portions 40 and4l, the latter suitably detachably securedto the rear end wall of the body member of the receptacle shown.

The target figures 42 which are hinged to the member 37, pass, during rotation, be-

tween the walls 40 and 41, the former of which constitutes a bjaflle wall opposed to the gap in the fortresswall. The platform 39 is spaced from the bottom of the receptacle body and may besuitably supported .by having the lower end of the shaftl43 carrying the member 37 rest-upon the said receptacle bottom or engage in .a bearing 44 fitted thereto. 1

The invention may also ,be' embodied as shown inFigs. 1 2 to,14, inclusive, wherein the fortress wall 45 is disposed nearer the gun 46 than in the other embodiments and the target figures 47 are,mounted on a plat- :form or carriage 6 whieh is reciprocable longitudinally of the receptacle l in suitable guides 49 mounted onthe; side walls thereof. Mounted in bearings50 carried by-the said side walls are two shafts51-over :which the belts 52 are-trained, saidlbelts being secured to the platform 6. one of, said shafts being adapted to be rotated by means of adetachable crank 53 to effect travel of said carriage. The latter travels betweenthe backstop wall 54 and the fortress wall 45land the target figures v47 are disposed in rows in staggered relation ,to each ,other on [said platform, the outermost target figures-passing .outof-gun range as the platform approaches the fortresswall because thegap 55 in the: latter. is o-f. such width and so disposed relatively to the muzzle of, the gun as to dispose said figures beyond protection of the side portions of the fortress wallonly L- vvhenthe platform is disposed at means of the wires 60. v .of ,the members 58 and- 59 are such that 1 V s and near mthefar limit -,of its movement relatively to the fortress wall. 7 V

Obvi s y, the t rg t figu s o e o the several embodiments of the invention may be variously numbered in order that it-he players may lreep score for competitive purposes.

I prefer to employ magazine guns each of which is provided in its barrel with a suitable opening with which therectangu-lar tube 56 communicates, the several -projec-- .tiles 57 being contained in the latter and 1 the lowest of the latter ,normallyrestingon .the spring-held plunger 58. As the latter tratedastructure which is somewhat similar to that shown in Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive, but

differing from thelatter'in certain details In this structure, the receptacle consists of a middle portion 58 and two end portions 59 the side walls of which are inwardly offset fromthose of the member-5S and are pivotally vassociated with the .latter by The relative lengths when the latter'are turned to lie entirely between theside walls ofthe member 58,

theouterend walls of the members 59 are almost in, contact with each other.

The, foldable or J collapsible back-stop walls 61 include the posts 62- terminating at theirvlower endsin dowels 63 fitting openingsinthe upper edges of theside walls of the members 59, the gun carriages 64lbeing also similarly ;pivotally associated with the other end walls of the'members 59, the guns ,65 having their muz zles opposed to openings intlie backstop walls. V

The members 59have inner end walls 66 between which and the wires 60 the :lower .edge portions of the fortress walls 67 are engaged .for supporting the latter, said wallshaving middle gaps.

Rotatablymounted in. bearings in the side wal1softhe members59areshafts 68 each earrying a pulley 69 over which the belt its ends with-the carriage 71 mounted on wheels .72 fortravel longitudinally of .the .member;-.58-between the fortress walls67. The carriage 71. carries the p latform or sup- .port '7 3 on which one or more rows of :tar-

.(O is-trained, the latter being connected at,

get figures ,or elements 74 are pivotally mounted, said platform 73 being. detachable from the carriage 71 bymeans-of-the doweljoints 7 5 to -permit the target elements 74- this. ure bein disp ed imilar ift those ot the structure illustrated in Figs. 12 to 15 with reference to the gaps in the fortress walls and the inuzzles of the guns.

The structure of Figs. 10 to 19 adapted to constitute a game apparatus to be played by either one or two persons and, in order that it may be successfully played by one person. I provide one of the shafts (58 with a. friction wheel 76 upon which the end portion of the shaft 77 which carries the fly wheel 78 rests, said end portion of said shatt being disposed in a vertical slot 79 in the adjacent side wall of one of the members 59. The other end of said shatt 77 engages in an opening in the other side wall of the said member F9 and. to prevent longitudinal n'iovemont of said shaft, collars S0 and 81 are provided thereon for engaging the inner face of the. wheel 76 and the outer face of the side wall opposed to the fly-wheel, the latter being adapted to be digitally into rapid motion to acquire the momentum necessary to maintain it in rotation for a period necessary to effect travel of the carriage from one to the other limit of: its movement so that an individual player may set the target tigures in motion by means of a quick movement ot a'hand in momentary contact with the tly-wheel and thereafter operate one of the guns during ensuing travel of the carriage. The said shaft 77 is also equipped with a preferably detachable crank 82 to be operated by one player while the the other operates a gun.

Obviously the player who most often shoots down the outer target figures while exposed to gun fire tln'ough the gap in the target wall at his end or the structure would be the winner of the game, it being the objcct of the other player to cause the highest attainable speed of. travel of the targetele' ments in order to prevent his rival from scoring the maximum number of hits.

l claim as my invention l. A mechanical toy including a receptacle ((jlllPPQ/Cl at one end with means for projecting a projectile, a target between the ends ot said receptacle, a toldable and detachable back-stop wall at the other end oi said receptacle, and coact-ing inter-engageable means on said wall and said receptacle for detachably securing the former to the latter while in unfolded position.

2. A mechanical toy including a receptacle including a body portion and cover member tor telescopically associating therewith to provide a closed receptacle or double walled open receptacle, a toldable "all including amiddle portion and side portions adapted when folded, to be contained within the closed receptacle and when unfolded to having its lower edge portion disposed between portions of the body and cover for supportin upright position at one end of the receptacle when open to constitute a back-step wall, a projectile project ing device arrange i for detachable mounting at the other end of the receptacle, and a target for said device.

3. A mechanical toy including a receptacle including a body portion and cover member for telescopic association to provide a closed receptacle or double walled open receptacle, a foldable wail including a middle portion and side portions adapted, when folded, to be contained within the closed receptacle and when unfolded, to having its lower edge portion disposed between portions of the body and cover for support in. upright position at one end 01 the receptacle when open to constitute a back-stop wall, a projectile projecting device arranged for detachable mounting at the other end oi the receptacle,

a recessed fortress wall arranged between the said back-stop all and the said device, and a target arranged between said walls.

l. A mechanical toy including a receptacle including a. body portion and cover member or telescopic a: -:sociation to provide a closed receptacle or double walled open receptacle. a, iibldable wall including a middle portion and side portions adapted, when folded, to be contained within theclosed receptacle and when unfolded, to having its lower edge portion disposed between portions of the body and cover for support in upright position at one end of the receptacle when open to constitute a. backstop wall, a projectile projecting device arranged for detachable mounting at the other end of the receptacle, arecessed fortress wall arranged between the said backstop wall and the said device, a movable target carrier disposed between said walls, and target elements mounted on said carrier.

5. A mechanical. toy including a. receptacle including a. body portion and cover nien'ibe'r tor telescopic assi'iciation to provide a closed receptacle or double walled open receptacle, a toldable, vall including a middle portion and side portions adapted, when 'lolded, to be contained within the closed receptacle and when unfolded, to having its lowcr edge portion disposed between portions ot the body and cover for support in upright position at one end of the receptacle when open to constitute a back-stop wall, a detachable gun carriage arranged tor pivotal movement on the end wall. of the open receptacle op posite the baclostop wall, a gun pivotally mounted on said carriage, for substantially universal movement relatively to said receptacle, a movable target arranged adjacent said back-stop all, and means for imparting movement to said target.

6. A gun and target toy including a base, a. back-stop wall at one end thereof, a tortress wall between the ends thereof provided with a. gap, a movable target carrying cle ment disposed between said walls, target ill) members mounted on said target carrying element, and means for imparting movement to said element to cause the said target membersto pass said gap at intervals to thereby be brought into and out of range of projectiles from a projecting device disposed opposite said gap and said walls, said base comprising areceptacle and closure therefor adapted when closed to contain all of the aforesaid elements and members.

7. A gun and target toy comprising a re ceptacle adapted to constitute a base, a projectile projecting device, a foldable back-stop wall, a fortress wall, a movable target and a motor therefor adapted to be contained in said receptacle when closed, means included in the latter for supporting said walls in upright position when said receptacle is open with the back-stop wall behind and the fortress wall in front of the target and between the latter and the projecting device, the said target including elements adapted to change position when hit by a projectile.

'8. A mechanical toy comprising a base, a projectile projecting device adapted to be disposed at one end thereof, a wall member having a gap disposed between the ends thereof, a platform movable longitudinally of said base disposed behind said wall, a plurality of target elements pivotally mounted on said platform at intervals fromone side edge portion to the other side edge portion thereof, means for effecting travel of said platform toward and from said wall, said gap and gun arranged relatively to the target elements to cause all of the latter to be exposed to projectiles from the gun when said platform is disposed at and near the far limit of its travel relatively to said wall and cause the elements nearest the side edge portions of the platform to become disposed behind the wall on either side of said gap out of range of projectiles as said platform approaches said wall.

9. A mechanical toycomprising a base, a projectile projecting device adapted to be disposed at one end thereof, a wall member having a gap disposed between the ends thereof, a platform movable longitudinally of said base disposed behind said wall, a plurality of target elements pivotally mounted on said platform at intervals from one side edge portion to the other side edge portion thereof, means for effecting travel ofsaid platform toward and from said wall, said gap and gun arranged relatively to the target elements to cause all of the latter to be exposed to projectiles from the gun when said platform is disposed at and near the far limit of its travel relatively to said wall and cause the elements nearest the side edge portions of the platform to become disposed behind the wall on either side of said gap out of range of projectiles as said platform approaches said wall, and a back-stop wall at the far end of the base relatively to the projecting device.

10. A gun and target toy including a receptacle and cover therefor, a foldable backstop wall, a fortress wall, a gun and a longitudinally movable platform carrying a lateral row of pivoted target figures all adapted to be contained within the receptacle when closed, guides in the latter for confining the platform to a predetermined path of movement, coactlng means on the receptacle and said gun and respective walls for supporting I the same in predetermined positions on the receptacle when open with the gun and backstop walls disposed at opposite extreme ends thereof and said fortress wall between the gun and the platform, and means for effecting travel of the platform toward and from the fortress wall to thereby cause certain of the target elements to be brought out of and into range of projectiles through said gap.

11. A gun and target toy comprising a receptacle open at the-top, a back-stop wall detachably mounted upon one. end thereof, a

a gap between the side edges of the fortress wall through which all of the target elements are exposed to gun-fire when the platform is adjacent to the back-stop wall.

ARTHUR S. LITTLEFIELD. 

